Page 60 of Drawn in Blood
Ember ran a hand down her face. It was going to be a long day.
“You comin’?” Killian grinned, popping his head around the corner again.
Ember sighed with a nod, following him up the steps toward the library. She still hadn’t gotten used to the size of her new home—the way the halls wound in and out of each other like a labyrinth, the secret passages that led between rooms, the piles of books that seemed to line each and every wall. She could feelher father here, traces of his magic were intertwined in every ancient fiber and grain of wood. It was home—her home. Her father’s home.
So, why did it feel like something was missing?
“Alright, now where were we?” Killian asked, as he waltzed into the library and toward the stack of books Ember had left on the table. Early morning light filtered in through the window, bathing the oak and mahogany shelves in a warm light. She shuffled through the books, grabbing one off the bottom of one of the stacks, and flipped it open to where she had last left off.
“Conversations about food, I think,” she replied, as she scanned the pages.
“No, no, we finished that one,” Killian said, as he tapped his chin. “Was it the history of Ireland?”
“No, that was last week,” Ember replied, as she shook her head. Silence fell over them as they scanned the pages until Killian chimed in.
“So, have you talked to your mum about going to the Kitts’ to practice soon?” he asked casually, as he flipped through one of the books. “You’ll never get better if you don’t practice.”
Ember snatched the book from his hand. “I’m doing perfectly well, thank you,” she quipped, “and maybe in a few weeks. I don’t want to offend my mum.”
“Offend her?” Killian scoffed. “What about you spending time with your brother and his best friend is offensive?”
“He’s not my brother,” Ember whispered, sifting through the pile she had on the table behind her, “not anymore.” She could almost feel Killian roll his eyes as she turned around.
“Family is more than who you were born to,” he replied, like her statement had personally offended him.
“What about, ‘Blood is thicker than water,’ and all that?” she asked, stalking to a shelf on the opposite wall.
Killian followed her and yanked her around by her shoulder. “That’s not how that quote goes,” he replied, “not entirely. It’s: ‘The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.’”
Ember narrowed her eyes at him. “So, am I supposed to just forget about my mum? And Theo? Go running back to the Kitts’ and pretend she just doesn’t exist?” She was fuming, smoke might as well have been pouring from her ears.
“That’s not what I said,” Killian replied, as he shook his head. “You can love your mum and Theo and continue to love the Kitts. Family is more than just blood—so much more.” He spoke with a conviction that made him almost transparent—a glimpse into what he felt about his own family, no doubt.
“Just because you have awful parents and can’t stand to be at home,” Ember muttered, “doesn’t mean I do too. We are not the same, Killian Vargr.”
Killian’s eyes widened, and he looked like she had shot an arrow straight through his chest.
Ember squeezed her eyes shut. She hadn’t meant for it to come out that harsh, and she immediately regretted it. “Can we talk about it later?”
Killian nodded as he bit his lip, shaking away whatever clouds were momentarily hovering over his head. “Okay, I have an idea. How about a little quiz?”
Ember cocked her brow and shook her head. “I don’t know if I’m ready for a quiz.”
“Of course you are.” He grinned. “Shall we?”
Ember gave a small nod and flexed her hands by her side. Killian began spouting off words and phrases, some that she remembered with ease and some she had to think about longer than she would’ve cared to admit.
“Did you say, ‘Ember the Brave?’” she asked with a laugh.
“Aye,” Killian nodded, “the bravest of us all.” He stood at attention, giving her a mock salute, and his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled.
“I am anything but brave.” Ember shook her head, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
“You are one of the bravest people I have ever met,” Killian said, as he leaned against the table. “The way you stood up against Rowan last year? You saved the whole island, and no one even knows it.”
“Bravery can look an awful lot like stupidity in the wrong lighting,” she replied, laughing dryly as she rolled her eyes.
“Don’t do that,” Killian said, narrowing his eyes at her.
